Part 4/8:
Initially, Scale AI outsourced its data labeling work to agencies across Southeast Asia and Africa. However, the team discovered that managing this workforce in-house proved to be more cost-effective and efficient. In 2017, they launched Remotasks, a platform that now employs over 240,000 workers from 90 countries, operational in places like Kenya, the Philippines, and Venezuela.
While Scale AI maintains that it is proud to offer living wages, the platform has drawn scrutiny, with workers alleging that they are sometimes compensated below local minimum wages. This controversy raises questions about the realities of the gig economy—particularly in sectors where demand for labor is high.